Materials Testing Laboratory Technician

We’re glad you’re exploring our Materials Testing Laboratory Technician position and want to share some of the details.

At Fort Wayne Metals, we specialize in producing top-quality wires, cables, and assemblies designed to enhance and safeguard lives. Our products are used in everything from our customers’ stents and surgical robots to aircraft and automobiles. At our essence, we are thinkers, innovators, and problem solvers, leveraging our knowledge of materials to create customized solutions for our customers.

Join us in our dedication to making a tangible impact through our advanced materials and superior products.

The Materials Testing Lab Tech will perform metallurgical, chemical testing, mechanical testing and thermal analysis of test specimens. They will provide assistance to other FWM departments, external customers and vendors in relation to materials, application or testing concerns and support the flow of requests for laboratory services. Also, the Tech will provide data collected to other FWM departments and to customers.

• Minimum 2 years in a STEM curriculum, associate’s degree or equivalent experience, or ASQ (American Society for Quality) certification as a Quality Inspector.

• Review laboratory requests for accuracy, thoroughness, and adherence to customer specifications and/or industry standards.
• Maintain detailed and accurate documentation of test parameters, results, and observations. Present them in a technical report for internal and external customers.
• Determine validity of testing methods and interpret accuracy of results. Recognize when a test result is not correct.
• Collaborate with Lab Manager to maintain and update lab work instructions and procedures using general knowledge and understanding of the FWM-MTL Quality Manual, Technical Procedures, Work Instructions and ISO 17025.
• Perform metallurgical evaluations, in any or all of the following test disciplines:
  • Examine microstructures of materials for appearance, consistency, phase distribution, surface or sub-surface defects, micro cleanliness, and grain size.
  • Document and describe surface appearance and features by using an optical microscope.
  • Document 3D surface roughness.
• Perform chemical analysis, in any or all of the following test disciplines:
  • Determination of Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Hydrogen in refractory metals and Nickel, Iron, and Cobalt based alloys.
  • Determination of Carbon and Sulfur in refractory metals and Nickel, Iron, and Cobalt based alloys.
  • Corrosion testing to quantify the resistance of a material or finished part to a corrosive environment.
  • Evaluate the integrity of a passive layer.
• Perform mechanical testing, in any or all of the following test disciplines:
  • Tensile Testing
  • Torsion Testing
  • Bend Moment Testing
  • Rotating Bending Fatigue Testing
  • Hardness Testing
• Perform Thermal Analysis, in any or all of the following test disciplines:
  • Differential Scanning Calorimetry testing to determine the transformation temperatures of Nitinol.
  • Bend and Free Recovery testing to determine the Active Af of Nitinol
• Act as point-of-contact for status inquiries of requests; both internal and external.
• Enter incoming requests to the laboratory database, maintaining traceability.
• Prioritize the flow of laboratory requests in order to optimize efficiently.
• File and maintain completed laboratory paperwork and retained samples.
• Maintain stocking levels of consumables. Write purchase orders for consumables.
• Coordinate external testing. Write purchase orders and distribute samples to external laboratories.
• Conduct basic laboratory sample preparation.
• Perform preventative maintenance on laboratory equipment.
• Maintain overall cleanliness and organization in the lab.
• Perform other duties and projects as requested by management.

• Precise and accurate record keeping.
• Recognize urgency and prioritize multiple projects as necessary.
• Demonstrated aptitude for operating and maintaining analytical equipment.
• Must be familiar with reading blueprints and understand the importance of working within tight quality parameters.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be able to interface with…